First Palette

Coming up with fresh, achievable craft ideas week after week can quickly drain even the most creative parent. First Palette is one of our favorite go-to sites for step-by-step, kid-friendly projects that reliably work with real families and budgets. Created by a former teacher and crafter, the site organizes activities by theme, season, and material, offering templates, supply lists, and clear photo instructions that make everything from masks to dioramas feel doable. We love that most projects use affordable, easy-to-find materials—paper plates, cardboard, paint—so you’re not constantly ordering specialty supplies. It’s ideal for preschool through elementary kids and for parents who like to dovetail crafts with holidays, unit studies, or book themes. The website design is a bit old-school and you’ll see ads, but the sheer number of free, well-tested ideas makes it a strong value compared with paid craft kits. Pro tip: pick three favorite projects per season, buy supplies in bulk once, and keep a labeled “craft box” ready for rainy days.